“Trip” is actually a variation of “type” which is a popular slang for “like.”
Every time I pass by that imposing structure at the corner of Seaside Boulevard and J.W.Diokno Boulevard on my way to Mall of Asia, I always marvel at its beautiful location because I could see that it has an unobstructed view of Manila Bay.
So when the Holy Week break came, I decided to be smart. Instead of driving hundreds of kilometers just to be in a nice beach resort and eventually getting stuck in horrendous traffic on the way back home, I opted to stay in the metropolis. I chose a hotel that would give me that “beach resort feel” without being far from things I may need in the course of the day. I realized that it was an opportunity for me to take a closer look at the facilities and services of this hotel I have always marveled at.
Tryp by Wyndham is a 191-room upper mid-scale property of Microtel Hotels and Resorts in the Philippines. As expected, its guestrooms offer a breathtaking view of Manila Bay and the metropolis. Thanks to Edison Rosales, the livewire dynamo Director of Sales of Microtel Hotels and Resorts, who made the arrangements for my staycation, I had a spacious, functionally designed suite on the 16th floor of the hotel, with a front-and-center, relaxing view of the bay.
The room I had could easily accommodate a family because, aside from the two queen-size beds, there is also a wide divan right beside the window which could serve as a bed for any regular-sized adult. It also has, beside another large window, a small dining area, complete with a microwave oven and a mini-refrigerator. And, I always like hotel rooms with very spacious bathrooms, which this one has.
The hotel’s all-day dining venue is Milagrito’s on the third floor. It banners Filipino and Spanish specialties on the menu, like kare-kare, lechon kawali, gambas, paella, lamb caldereta, and many other mouth-watering culinary offerings. I enjoyed their rice bowls because, not only are they very affordable, but they are also cooked to culinary perfection. I went for the sumptuous salmon salpicao for lunch, and the pork belly sisig was my dinner delight.
What I like most about the restaurant is the spacious veranda in its periphery, where guests can enjoy their meals with the sea breeze blowing from all directions. These days, when the pesky virus is still very much around, I always prefer to dine in open-air restaurants, just to have that added protection of not being cooped up in a covered space where the air does not circulate.
Friends have been telling me about the hotel’s swimming pool which, they said, puts guests practically “on top of the world,” so I could hardly wait to spend a whole day working on my golden tan. True enough, when I got to the roof deck (the swimming pool is on the 19th floor), I was stunned by the breathtaking, 360-degree, calming view of the bay and of the metropolis. It was the “crowning moment” of my staycation.
I was lucky to have had the pool all to myself when I went up at around 10:00 a.m., of course, under the watchful eye of the lifeguard who, I could see, also busied himself with his other duties of keeping the pool area clean and orderly. So, there I was enjoying my swimming session to the hilt, in my “private” pool, on top of the metropolis, with the healthy sea breeze keeping me safe by blowing away any unwanted antigens.
My swimming reverie ended when I noticed that I had already turned into a darker mass of epidermis and I needed to replenish my lost body liquids with an ice-cold glass of Pina Colada. It was certainly the best way to spend the long weekend! If you’re in the market for a staycation that’s exciting and affordable, take a trip to Tryp. You may reach them at (632) 840-8000 or hello-mnl@tryp.ph
YOUR MONDAY CHUCKLE
What’s the difference between a cat and a comma? A cat has claws at the end of paws; a comma is a pause at the end of a clause.
For feedback, I’m at bobzozobrado@gmail.com